SIOUX FALLS — South Dakota distance aces Simeon Birnbaum and Ali Bainbridge claimed individual titles at Saturday’s Nike Heartland Preview. 

Birnbaum, a Rapid City Stevens senior, covered the 5,000-meter distance at Yankton Trails Park in 14 minutes and :47.8 seconds to earn the win. He finished ahead of Minnetonka, Minnesota’s Nick Gilles (15:22.1) and Harrisburg’s Cashton Johnson (15:51.5). Minnetonka’s Max Westerlund (15:56.6) and Rapid City Stevens’ Grady Loos (16:04.7) finished fourth and fifth, respectively.

Sioux Falls Lincoln's Ali Bainbridge won Saturday's Nike Heartland Preview cross-country race in Sioux Falls. (Rodney Haas / 605 Sports)

Bainbridge, a Sioux Falls Lincoln senior, won the 5,000-meter race in 17:10.7. Sioux Falls O’Gorman’s Libby Castelli (17:41.0) and Rapid City Stevens’ Brionna Holso (18:00.4) finished second and third, respectively. Sioux Falls O’Gorman’s Ruth Pardy (18:26.5) and Spearfish’s Peyton VanDeest (18:32.3) rounded out the top-five girls runners. 

Minnetonka won both the team titles. The Minnetonka girls recorded 61 points, finishing ahead of Spearfish (95) and Rapid City Stevens (97). Sioux Falls Lincoln (108) and Sioux Falls O’Gorman (130) finished fourth and fifth, respectively. 

The Minnetonka boys ran away with the team title, finishing with 34 points. Worthington, Minnesota (121) and Rapid City Stevens (128) placed second and third, respectively. Sioux Falls Lincoln (148) and Hill City (171) rounded out the top-five teams. 

COMPLETE BOYS RESULTS

COMPLETES GIRLS RESULTS